Fiddle snatch block



June 5, 1928.

T. A. MCMILLAN FIDDLE SNATCH BLOCK Filed Aug.12, 1927 WIITNESSES ATTORNEY Patented June 5, 1928.

UNITED STATES THOMAS A. MCMILLAN, 0F NEW YORK, N. Y.

FIDDLE BNATGH BLOCK.

Application med August 12, 1927. Serial lio. 212,517.

The present invention is concerned with the provision of a fiddle snatch block which may have a wide ran e of utility, but which is rimarily intende to be used for the leads of both the main falls and topping lift on a hoisting derrick, taking the place oi' the two blocks now commonly employed.

Other and more general ob'ects of the invention are to provide a block of this character which will be of extremely simple, practical construct-ion which will be rugged, durable and eiicient in use, capable of convenient manipulation and well suited t0 the` requirements of economical manufacture.

With the above noted and other objects .in View, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts, as will be more fully hereinafter set Aforth and pointed out in the claims. The invention may be more fully understood froml the following description in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the fiddle snatch block embodyingv the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view therethrough. 4

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but illustrating the `two ates open.

Fig. 4 is an e evational view showi a slightly modified type of head for the block.

Fig. 5 is an edge view of Fig. 4.

It is to be understood that the drawin s are illustrative of certain preferred embo 1f ments of the invention, but are not to be considered in a limiting sense. While the block herein illustrated and described is of metal construction, other suitable materials might be utilized. y

Referring first to Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive of the drawings I have used the reference characters l0 and 10a to desi ate the spaced parallel. generally iiddle s a ed side plates or cheek plates of the block etween which are nlountedan upper sheave 11 and lower sheave 12 preferably of different sizes.,

Eachcheek plate is materially strengthened and reinforced by a longitudinally extending stra rigidly secured against its outer face. gtrap 13 of the che'k plate l() and strap 13 of the cheek plate 10 extend at their lower ends beyond the lower ends of the plates and are connected by a cross bolt 14`to form a becket which may be used for tricing when the block is used for ,leads and for the standing part when the block is used for tackle. VThe bolt 14 carries an eye or thiinble 15 through which a line may be tric'ed. f l

4The cheek plates 10 and 10 may be firmly riveted toget er as at 16 and are additionally secured by rivets 1"(` passed through the cheek plates and straps and through spacers 18 arranged betweenthe cheek plates.

The sheaves 11 and 12 rotate on bearing bushings 19, `these bushings encircling stationary axle bolts 20 passed through the cheek plates and straps and held b nuts 21. Preferably leach axle bolt 2() is ormed with a key 22 received in al recess 22a in the strap 13, so that the axles of the sheaves arepositively held against rotation.

The use of the headed axlebolts and their associated nuts lend rigidity. to the construe tion adjacent the sheave bearings.

The sheaves are Well rounded as at 11, 12 and the cheek plate edges are rounded as at 10 `so that there is no danger of tearing or sclraping a line on the edges of the sheaves ates. V `e upper end of each strap projects beyon'd the upper end of its associated cheek plate and 1s formed with an integral or welded eye 23. These e esare straddled by the depending parallel anges 24 of a head 25; the Han es 24 being apertured for alignment with he eyes 23. A pivot pin 26 is passed through one of the eyes 23 and the associated apertures in the flange 24, while a removable locking pin 27 passes through the other eye 23 and its ali ned flange apertures. By rernovinr the locking pin 27, the head 25 may be ti ted from the position of Fig. 2 to the position of Fig. 3, providing a gate which materially facilitates reeving of the upper sheave 11. Preferably the locking pin 27 is carried on a chain 28 so that it is retained against loss when the head has been tilted to the position of Fig. 3.

Preferably the head is swivelly joined to an oval eye 29, this eye including a shank 30 which passes through the head 25 between the flanges 24 and is upset as at 31 over a shank encircling washer 32. The shank is also shouldered at 33 for engagement with alsA the upper flat surface of the head so that the eye 29 may have no movement relatively to the head other than a swivelling movement.

The strap 13 is of sectional formation as is the cheek late 10* in order to provide a second gate etween the upper and lower sheaves. The numeral 35 has been used to designate the short central section of the strap 13, stra section 35 carrying a corresponding chee plate section 36. The two ends 0f the relatlvely short strap section 35 are formed with eyes 37 and 38 aligned with eyes 39 and 40 formed at the ends of the.

adjacent sections of the strap 13". A hinge pin 41V permanently. connects the ali eyes 37 and 39, while a removable loc 'ng pin 42 is passed through the aligned eyes 38 and 40, this pinl be anchored by a chain 43 so that it cannot e lost when it is removed to permit the gate 35, 36 to swing downwardly.

A line is prevented from escaping from the upper sheave by the head ianges 24 which straddle the mortise above the sheave and actas guards. The rivets 17 prevent displacement of a line trained over the lower sheave.

B virtue of the foregoing construction a slngl'e fiddle snatch block may be used for the leads of both the main falls and the toiping lift to the winch on a hoisting derric thereby eliminating the two blocks presently emplo ed. By having a snatch opening for both t e upper and lower sheaves the block may be used for either a single or double lead. The toppin lift may be run over the upper sheave, an the main falls over the lower, or vice versa. Two fiddle blocks ma be used for either topping lifts or main fa in place of two double blocks as a tackle. The fiddle snatch blocks may be used with either a single, double or triple block as a tackle when it becomes necessary to increase the purchase. The 4manner of operation when reeving a block will be readily apparent from the foregoing description from which it will be noted that the removal of either locking pin 27 or 42 permits the opening of an associated gate and the ready apphcation of lines to, or removal of lines from the upper and lower sheaves.

In Figs. 4 and 5 I have illustrated a slightly modified ty e of head in use in which the upper ends of straps 50 corresponding to the stra s 13, 13 and provided with aligned e es or the reception of a pivot bolt 51. traps` 53 and 54 of substantially U-shape include apertured ends aligned with the eyes of the straps 50 and receiving the pivot bolt 51. The ends of the strap 53 are straddled by the strap ends 50, while the ends of the strap 54 straddle the strap ends 50. The intermediate portions of the straps 53 and 54 lie against each edV other and encircle a second pivot pin 55 disppsed at right angles to the bolt 51 and providing a mounting for a clevis or shaclrle 56. By virtue of this construction', two pivotal adjustments at right angles to each other are had and substantially a universal connection provided between the snatch block and its head.

Obviously various changes and alterations might be made in the general form and arrangement of the parts described without departing from the invention. Hence I do not wish to limit myself to the details set forth, but, shall consider myself at liberty to make such chan es and alterations as fairly fall within t e spirit and scope of the appended claims.

'I claim:

1. As anew articleI of manufacture, a

fiddle snatch block including spaced rigidly connected cheek plates, upper and lower sheaves arranged between the cheek lates, one of the plates'including a hinged gate section disposed between the two sheaves.

2. Asa new article of manufacture, a fiddle snatch block including spaced rigidly connected cheek lates, upper and lower sheaves arranged between the cheek lates, one of the plates including1 a hinge gate section disposed between t e two sheaves, and a head ivotally connected to one plate and remova ly locked to the other whereby it constitutes a hinged gate for the upper sheave.

3. As a new Varticle of manufacture, a fiddle snatch block including spaced rigidly connected cheek plates, upper and lower sheaves arranged etween the cheek plates, one of the plates including a hinged gate section disposed between the two sheaves, and longitudinally extending reinforcing straps iixed to the outer faces of the plates and extending beyond the ends thereof.

4. As a new article of manufacture, a fiddle snatch block including spaced rigidly connected cheek lates, upper and lower sheaves arranged tween the cheek lates, one of the plates including a hinged) gate section disposed between the two sheaves, longitudina ly extending reinforcing straps fixed to the outer faces of the plates and extending beyond the ends thereof, the pro- ]ectmg upper ends of the strap defining eyes, and a head attached to the eyes.

5. As a new article of manufacture, a fiddle snatch block including spaced rigidly connected cheek plates, upper and lower sheaves arranged between the cheek lates, one of the plates includin a hinged) gate section disposed between t e two sheaves, longltudinally extending reinforcing straps Ilo fixed to the outer faces of the plates and extending beyond the ends thereof, the pro- ]ecting upper ends of the strap defining eyes, and a head attached to the eyes, the

6. As a `new article of manufacture, a

fiddle snatch block including spaced ri idly connected cheek plates, upper and Y ower sheaves arranged between the cheek plates,`

one ofthe plates including a hinged gate section disposed between the two sheaves, and4 longitudinally extending reinforcing straps `fixed to the outer faces of the lates and extending beyond the ends thereo one strap including a short pivoted section normally locked a ainst pivotal movement and carrying `the a orementioned gate section of the associated cheek plate.

Si ned at New York city, in the county of Nw York and State of New York, this 10th da)7 of August A. D. 1927.

THOMAS A. MCMILLLAN. 

